Travel Vaccine Breaking News

CureVac N.V. today announced the dosing of the first participant in a Phase 2 study of the multivalent seasonal influenza vaccine candidate developed in collaboration with GSK.

The study will assess targeted optimizations for improved immune responses of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine candidate against the relevant influenza B strain.

The design of the multivalent vaccine candidate (FLU SV mRNA) has been changed to address all three World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended influenza strains and to exclude the influenza B/Yamagata lineage. The three remaining influenza strains include two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain.

This new Phase 2 study in the joint CureVac/GSK seasonal influenza program was initiated following interim data from the Phase 2 part of the ongoing combined Phase 1/2 study in seasonal influenza, which was reported on April 4, 2024.

Dr. Myriam Mendila, Chief Scientific Officer of CureVac, commented in a press release on May 28, 2024, "Historically, it's been challenging to target influenza B strains with a potent vaccine strategy. We are making progress in adapting and optimizing our clinical approach to address this challenge and improve performance against the remaining B strain."

The companies did not disclose a potential availability date for this new flu shot.

In response to the WHO's decision, various flu shot manufacturers intend to release modified vaccines in time for the 2024-2025 flu season in the United States. Last season, about 158 million flu shots were distributed, which was a decrease from the 2022-2023 flu season's 173 million.

Nationally, outpatient respiratory illness remained stable and is below baseline for the seventh week in a row, according to Key Updates for Week #20 of the 2023-2024 flu season in the United States.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on May 24, 2024, that all ten regions are below their region-specific baselines.

Unfortunately, two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported last week, increasing this season's total to 169 pediatric deaths.

Last season, the CDC reported 185 pediatric deaths from influenza infections.

The CDC continues to encourage most children over six months of age to get an annual flu shot, either cell, egg, or nasal, which is offered at most clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that UNICEF successfully delivered over 43,000 doses of the R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine to Bangui, Central African Republic.

As of May 24, 2024, 122,000 additional R21 doses are scheduled for delivery, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

The Central African Republic, with a population of over 5 million, is the first country to receive the R21 vaccine for routine childhood immunization. This marks another step forward in preventing the disease and saving children's lives. 

The WHO says that along with the earlier WHO recommendation of the RTS,S vaccine, there is now sufficient vaccine supply to scale up malaria vaccination in Africa.

Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda are preparing to receive R21 shipments.

Director of UNICEF Supply Division Leila Pakkala commented in a press release, "Previous concerns about supply meeting demand are firmly behind us. Our priority is for the vaccines to reach every child at risk."

The Central African Republic has one of the highest rates of malaria incidence globally. In 2022, an estimated 1,733,000 malaria cases were reported in the country, averaging about 4747 cases a day.

The disease also claimed around 5180 lives over the year, or 14 deaths each day.

Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, stated, "That is what matters most – that countries, where our vaccines can be most impactful, can access them, saving thousands of lives each year and offering relief to families, communities, and entire health systems."

On October 2, 2023, the WHO recommended R21 vaccination to prevent malaria in children. R21 is a protein-based vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, using Novavax AB's Matrix-M™ adjuvant technology.

"The R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine is a vital new tool to help stop the devastating health and economic impact of malaria on nearly half of the world's population, including the tragic loss of 1,300 children every single day," said John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax, on May 20, 2024.

According to the U.S. CDC's MMWR 73(20);460–466, JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccination does prevent mpox; however, infection in fully vaccinated persons can occur.

On May 23, 2024, the CDC disclosed that mpox virus infection after receipt of two JYNNEOS doses is estimated to have occurred in <1% of fully vaccinated persons.

Among persons who experienced infection after having received a complete 2-dose series and for whom complete data were available, mpox infections have been milder than those among unvaccinated persons.

In 2024, mpox cases have been reported in urban centers such as New York City, which confirmed 42 mpox cases from April 7, 2024, to May 4, 2024.

The CDC says that to optimize protection, persons recommended to receive mpox vaccination should complete Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS vaccination series. Estimates suggest that about two million U.S. individuals are eligible for mpox vaccination.

Furthermore, the CDC does not recommend additional vaccine doses at this time.

Regarding the current clade 1 mpox outbreak in Africa, on March 14, 2024, Agam Rao, MD CAPT, US Public Health Service, stated, 'JYNNEOS vaccination is expected to be effective regardless of mpox clade.

Since the global mpox outbreak began in May 2022, cases have continued to occur in the United States in 2024.

According to the U.S. CDC's Notes from the Field published on May 23, 2024, after the peak in late 2022, mpox cases declined sharply and remained significantly lower, about 59 cases per week from October 2023 to April 30, 2024.

Most mpox cases in the U.S. are reported in urban centers.

In New York City, there have been 42 mpox cases from April 7, 2024, to May 4, 2024.

The CDC says most new mpox cases occur in unvaccinated persons. However, vaccine breakthrough cases have been confirmed. 

Since October 2023, five people have died from mpox infection.

CDC recommends that persons at risk for mpox exposure who have not previously recovered from mpox complete the 2-dose JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccination.

A meta-analysis of 16 studies published on April 26, 2024, revealed that the JYNNEOS vaccine effectiveness (VE) for one pre-exposure prophylactic vaccination ranged from 35% to 86%, and VE ranged from 66% to 90% (n=5) for two doses.

Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS was co-developed with the U.S. Government (BARDA, BioShield) to ensure adult populations can be protected from smallpox.

As of May 2024, healthcare providers in the U.S. can order JYNNEOS through their preferred wholesaler and distribution partners.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently highlighted two gateway cities as the unfortunate leaders in this year's dengue outbreaks.

According to New York City Health, travel-related dengue cases have increased among residents in recent years. As of May 21, 2024, the CDC confirmed 114 cases.

And the Florida Department of Health recently confirmed 173 travel-associated dengue cases, mainly by visitors from Brazil and Cuba, and 7 cases of locally acquired dengue were reported from two counties (Miami-Dade, Pasco).

In 2023, Florida reported 609 travel-associated dengue cases, and 186 people locally contracted dengue from the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Throughout the Americas, 7,327,521 suspected cases of dengue (an increase of 243% from 2023) and over 1,700 deaths have been registered in 2024.

While dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease, vaccinations are not generally offered in the U.S.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department recently announced a pertussis outbreak after 9 cases were confirmed since late April 2024. These cases include students attending local high schools.

“Any school-age children with symptoms of pertussis should stay home from school and visit their health care provider for evaluation, even if they have previously been vaccinated,” the health department said in a statement on May 20, 2024. 

Pertussis (Whooping cough) is a contagious respiratory illness that spreads quickly from person to person. The health department recommends preventive antibiotics for high-risk students exposed to pertussis. 

Kentucky requires school-age children to be vaccinated against pertussis. For protection, one dose of the Tdap vaccine is recommended for children ages 11 and above.

Throughout the United States, pertussis cases have been increasing in recent years.

The U.S. CDC reported 5,611 cases in 2023, significantly more than the 2,388 pertussis cases reported in 2022.

Internationally, pertussis outbreaks have continued in 2024.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), more than 32,000 pertussis cases were reported between January and March 2024. The ECDC data announced on May 8, 2024, indicates a nearly 10-fold increase in pertussis cases this year.